KIND PRAISE:

New year, new attempt to find the right stylist for me. I know there’s often ramp up time in hitting a groove with a stylist so I’m always prepared to not love my cut or color until a few months into the relationship. I have also been fooled into prolonging a relationship w/ an unreliable stylist by getting one good cut out of 3 or 4 so I keep going back in the hopes I’ll get lucky. So I wanted to get some time under my belt at 77 before writing a review.

I started seeing Mandy in January and each successive cut and color has been as good if not better than the last. She listens and communicates well and I always leave satisfied. My very honest (read: opinionated) friend even complimented my hair – a big win!

I often think there’s a secret code or stylist language that I haven’t mastered because prior to Mandy my Portland hair experiences had been disappointing and frustrating. If there is another hair language, Mandy is bi-lingual.
Kate Begonia

Mandy Zelinka is THE BOMB.  I have not had a regular hair person for over 5 years – I couldn’t commit.  The search is OVER, thank god.

Mandy’s got a great way about her – laid back, funky and fun.  The real clincher (besides the fact that I’ve gotten more compliments on my hair in the last 6 months than I have in the last few YEARS) is that she’s flexible.  I’ve come in with a specific color and cut in mind, which she executed wonderfully – even better than I imagined.  I have also come in with no idea of what I wanted, just that I wanted a change.  She followed her muse, and I was thrilled.

Highly recommended!
Beth Madsen-Bradford

Portland, OR

I lived in Seattle for six years, bouncing around from stylist to stylist, on a continual hunt for The One.  More often than not, I’d walk away with orangish highlights that were supposed to be flame red, or looking like a porcupine instead of a pixie (I mean, they both start with “P” so maybe she just didn’t understand me), or layers that made me look like I was wearing a Farrah Fawcett wig that had been left in an alley and rained upon, or with a general feeling of discontent.  When I moved to Portland two months ago I was terrified of going through another round of awful cuts.  So terrified in fact, that I waited until my roots had gone from Sienna Miller to Kim Mathers, I was scanning our employee handbook to see if wearing a bandanna to work fell into the “business casual” category, and was seriously contemplating driving for 3.5 hours to have my previous stylist fix my hair.  And then I found Salon 77 (thank you, Yelp).  I have to admit, I was slightly dubious because I thought of myself as more of a South East type of girl as opposed to Pearl District, but their logo (what can I say, I like things with flames) convinced me to give them a call.  Unlike some hip/trendy salons I’ve been to, the receptionist was uber sweet.  She heard the desperation in my voice when I called and managed to squeeze me in that day, gave me directions when I got lost (NE Glisan versus NW Glisan…ooopsies), and didn’t let one giggle escape when I sheepishly poked my head out of the changing room and asked “Wait…I’m not supposed to get completely undressed before I put on this robe thingy…right?”  (Note-the answer is No).  The salon has a chic loft feel – high ceilings, hardwood floors, rad urban artwork on the walls, yummy coffee, and plush couches.

My appointment was with Mandy, who asked all the right questions (short term plan, long term plan, history of hair, curly or straight, etc), listened intently, and gave me her opinion in a non-pushy way.  I explained that my goals were to get rid of the aforementioned highlights, do something (please god anything) to ease the agonizing process of growing out my hair, and that I needed a low maintenance cut because…well because I’m not exactly a morning person and really feel that 45 minutes is better spent sleeping than blow drying, straightening, and dealing with product.  Mandy suggested layers, and correctly read the expression on my face as panic (see reference to bad Farrah Fawcett wig).  She reassured me that they would be subtle, give my hair shape and body, and would work both straight and wavy.  Since I was about two days away from wearing a bandana to my job, company dress code policy be-damned, I figured it would be wise to trust the professional.  One hour later…my hair was a rich deep brown color (as an added bonus the dye she used didn’t have that potent chemical smell, so I wasn’t high from the fumes wafting from my head), my scalp was tingly from the minty shampoo and awesome massage, and my cut was perfect – flattering, low maintenance, and edgy without being trendy.  Throughout the process Mandy made sure I was supplied with the latest gossip mags, and was friendly and chatty while still respecting my need to find out if Brad and Angelina are really splitting up.  I left with another appointment scheduled with Mandy and $120 poorer (including cut, color, and tip).  It was up there in the “Best $ I’ve Ever Spent” Category…the others being $15 sunscreen for the Vegas poolside (oh wait, that’s money I should have spent but didn’t), $130 for the perfect denim, and $14 to see Fugazi play two shows.

Ella W

‘Many of you have asked where I go to get my hair cut and colored. MANDY ZELINKA, whom I met through her dear cousins (my friends and roommate), has been doing my hair for more years than I can count now. For just short of a decade, she owned 77, creating what was to become one of the most acclaimed and distinguished s alons in Portland. Mandy recently announced that she has made a career move, and has moved over to GINGER SALON at 17th and Lovejoy. Mandy has supported me through short hair, long hair, red hair, blonde hair, thermalstraightening, and letting my natural curl expose itself. I’ve trusted her judgment, her knowledge and creativity, and her very “Summer-like” sense of humor. If you’re looking for a stylist who stays updated with training and styling, and does great hair, while maintaining affordability, go see my friend Mandy at Ginger Salon! And tell her I sent you.’

from facebook, and Summer Dickinson Ireland

via email:

Hi Mandy,